Ex-KC Chiefs player tells Taylor Swift dancer-brother, ‘You’re pulling for Saints’

First, the important piece of news.

Kameron Saunders, a UMKC grad now working as a backup dancer on Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour, will be pulling for the New Orleans Saints — not the Chiefs — on Monday night.

Kameron’s brother, former Chiefs defensive tackle Khalen Saunders, now plays for the Saints. And Khalen has insisted that Kameron back New Orleans, even though Swift’s boss is dating Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce.

The Chiefs meet the Saints Monday evening for a Week 5 NFL showdown at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.

“That his boss, but I’m his brother. I was here first,” Khalen Saunders told a group of reporters this past week in New Orleans. “He’s going to be cheering for me because I’m paying for his ticket.”

The affable Saunders, selected by the Chiefs in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft, is one of a handful of former Chiefs now suiting up for New Orleans. Also on the Saints’ roster are safety Tyrann Mathieu and linebacker Willie Gay Jr. (although Gay won’t play Monday because of a hand injury).

Mathieu enjoyed the most decorated stretch of his pro career in Kansas City from 2019-21. He turned in two All-Pro and Pro Bowl seasons with the Chiefs.

Gay, drafted by the Chiefs in the second round in 2020, started on each of the last two Super Bowl championship teams before signing with New Orleans this past offseason.

Saunders said the Saints can learn from the Chiefs when it comes to prevailing in close contests. The Chiefs (4-0) have won 10 straight games dating to last season, nine by eight points or fewer.

The Saints (2-2) blew out the Carolina Panthers and Dallas Cowboys to open the season, but they’re coming off a three-point loss to the Philadelphia Eagles and two-point defeat against the Atlanta Falcons.

“We’ve lost two games by a total of five points,” Saunders said. “It just goes to show, we’re right there. We have to focus on finishing strong. They (the Chiefs) do a great job of preaching the finish.

“They’re 4-0 by about four plays,” he added. “That’s not to take anything away from them. It goes to show you how close this league is.”

Here’s what to watch when the Chiefs and Saints play Monday at 7:15 p.m. Central Time on ESPN, ESPN2 and Channel 9:

Chiefs player to watch: CB Jaylen Watson

In last week’s win against the Chargers, Chris Jones logged a pair of sacks, Kareem Hunt rushed for 69 yards in his season debut and Xavier Worthy raced under a Patrick Mahomes bomb for a 54-yard touchdown.

But the Chiefs’ highest-graded player that day? Watson, who finished with a pair of passes defended and no completions allowed in five targets.

“He had a really good game last week,” KC defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo said. “Jaylen’s been solid. We need that.”

Saints player to watch: WR Chris Olave

This third-year pro is off to a good start and just seems to catch everything thrown his way.

Olave has 20 receptions in 24 targets so far in 2024. He had eight receptions for 87 yards a week ago in the Saints’ loss to the Falcons.

Look for Watson and fellow Chiefs corner Trent McDuffie to see the majority of KC’s defensive snaps against Olave on Monday.

Special teams player to watch: Saints K Blake Grupe

Grupe, who played at Smith-Cotton High in Sedalia, Missouri, is in his second season in the NFL. He has a big leg, having booted a 57-yarder.

Unlike the Chiefs, the Saints are not a touchback team. They’ve preferred to make opponents return the football on kickoffs, accumulating eight touchbacks and 17 returns.

The Chiefs have had just four kickoffs returned against them — with 17 touchbacks.